What causes white bumps on an inner lip?

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White bumps or patches on the inner lip may be caused by canker sores or oral warts, according to the National Institute of Health. Another possible cause is Fordyce Granules, according to Maxillo Facial Center. Alternatively, these bumps may be harmless cysts, according to FamilyDoctor.org.

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Canker sores are white patches that sting or tingle and appear as open sores, according to the National Institute of Health. They typically go away on their own and do not require treatment. Oral warts may also present as white, rough bumps on the inner lips or the roof of the mouth.

White bumps on the inner lip may also be normal sebaceous glands, which appear in the mouths of up to 80 percent of adults. These present as visible white bumps or cauliflower-like clusters of bumps. In the mouth, these visible sebaceous glands are called Fordyce granules or ectopic sebaceous glands, and they do not require treatment, according to the Maxillo Facial Center.

Lastly, a mucocele, or small, fluid-filled blister caused by sucking the lip in between the spaces of the teeth can appear as a raised bump on the inner lip. These should not be popped and often go away on their own, according to FamilyDoctor.org.